Spain defender Gerard Pique made an obscure basketball reference to compare the shock managerial change on the eve of the World Cup.

Fernando Hierro replaced Julen Lopetegui in the hot-seat for La Roja just two days before their World Cup campaign gets underway against Portugal.

The Barcelona central defender has now referenced the University of Michigan basketball team, whose promoted assistant Steve Fisher led them to the national title after Bill Frieder announced he was joining Arizona State.

“University of Michigan. Basketball. 1989. NCAA Champion. It would not be the first time it happened,” Pique wrote on Twitter.

“All together, now more than ever.”

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